The Blueprint

Innovation is baked into the business plan at Rotary Lift. It’s how we got started and how we’ve thrived for the last 90 (yes, 90!) years. Here’s a closer look at four of those key innovations.

1. Peter Lunati Launches an Industry

After serving in World War I, Peter Lunati returned to Memphis, TN, and opened a repair shop. Tired of climbing in and out of the pit and inspired by the hydraulics of a barber chair, he sought a better way. In June 1925, he filed a patent for the first-ever hydraulic lift, and a new industry was born.

2. Rotary Invents a Category with the SmartLift®

In 1995, we revolutionized the industry again with the first fully contained modern inground lift – the Rotary SmartLift. Twenty years later, our SmartLifts are still wowing new customers with their small footprint, clean design and eco-friendly features.

3. Shockwave® Equipped Lifts Take it up a Notch

Some things never change, and one of those things is the universal need for more time. Peter Lunati didn’t have time to climb in and out of the pit to get under cars, and today’s technicians don’t have time to wait around while their lifts raise and lower. We saw the need for a faster lift, and in 2010, we added the Shockwave package to our lineup. Available on four-post, two-post and inground models, the Shockwave addition cuts the time it takes to raise and lower a vehicle in half.

4. TRIOTM Arm Eases Setup

Sometimes, the smallest changes can have the biggest impact. A new and improved lift arm might not sound like a big deal to some people, but if you’ve ever worked with a lift, you know what a difference this can make. The TRIO Arm, available on our SmartLifts and two-posts lifts, ups productivity with greater drive-through clearance, more room between the lift and the bottom of the car, and extendable arms that help you reach pick up points faster.

We’re always looking to the future. What do our customers need? What will help make them perform repairs better and faster? That mindset has served us well for 90 years. We think we’ll stick with it.